Student Trainee and Early Career Awards

Before starting an application or nomination, please review the following:

• Confirm your eligibility. Applicants and nominees must be Professional Members of the American Heart Association and members of the Scientific Council(s) sponsoring the award. Eligibility criteria—including career stage—vary by award. Join or Renew
• Review the submission type. Some awards require self-application, while others require third-party nomination. Certain honors (e.g., invited lectures or special recognitions) are selected by councils or program committees and do not require an application.
• Check governance-based restrictions. Previous award winners and finalists, selection committee members, council leadership, and national Board members may be subject to eligibility limitations.
• Prepare required materials in advance. Most awards require a CV or résumé, letters of support, and a statement addressing award criteria. Requirements and formatting instructions are award specific.
• Note the deadline. Application and nomination deadlines vary by award. Late or incomplete submissions are not accepted.

• Abstract-based awards require that you first submit your abstract in the Online Abstract Submission and Invitation System. Instructions and support may be found on each of the meeting’s abstracts and awards page.
• Additionally, many council-sponsored awards require that you complete an application in the Council Awards Application System. The first time you log in to create an application, you must do so through your Professional Heart Daily (PHD) account. Once logged in, select the Council Award Application System. For more details, please refer to these instructions. For technical support with your award application, contact ProposalCentral Support by email.

Applicants and nominees must be Professional Members of the American Heart Association and members of the Scientific Council(s) sponsoring the award. Membership must be active through the date of recognition to remain eligible for any award funding. Join or Renew

Previous winners and finalists are not eligible to reapply for the same award in subsequent years. Additional governance-based restrictions apply to selection committee members, council leadership, and national Board members.

• Members of an award selection committee may not be directly involved in nominations or letters of support prior to submission and are not eligible to receive the award selected by that committee.
• The council chair, chair-elect and immediate past chair are not eligible to receive awards sponsored by their council during their term.
• Members of the national Board of Directors are not eligible to receive a monetary award. If a council chooses to recognize a current Board member, the non-monetary designation may be conferred; however, any monetary component (such as an honorarium) must be declined.

• Peer Reviewer Conflict of Interest
  • The core values of impartiality, fairness, and integrity are fundamental to the American Heart Association’s peer review process.
  • Any situation that could cause a reasonable person with all the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the reviewer or that leads a reviewer to question his or her objectivity means that the reviewer may not participate in the evaluation of that award application.
• Committee Membership – Award selection committee members should not be directly involved in nominations or letters of support prior to their submittal nor are they eligible to receive the award designation selected by the committee.
• Committee Conflict of Interest Situations – Committee members may participate in the award(s) peer review when an application originates from an institution where the committee member has collaborators, but the committee member’s collaborators are not listed on the application.
• Committee members may not participate in the award(s) peer review and will be recused if:
  • The committee member is named on the application in a major professional role including as a contributing author
  • The committee member’s mentor or trainee has applied for the award
• Committee members may participate in the award(s) peer review but may not review certain applications and must be excused while the application is discussed when:
  • The committee member has submitted a nomination or written a letter of support for an award candidate
  • The PI or others on the application with a major role are from the committee member’s lab or department
  • Within the past three years, the committee member has been a collaborator or has any other professional relationship (e.g., served as a mentor) with any person on the application who has a major role.

• What are Council Awards?
  Council Awards recognize excellence in science, clinical practice, education, advocacy, and service within each Scientific Council’s focus area. Awards are offered annually and vary by council and career stage.
• Do I apply for an award, or must I be nominated?
  Submission requirements vary by award. Some awards require self-application, while others require third-party nomination.
• Can I submit more than one application or nomination?
  Multiple submissions are permitted only if allowed by the individual award guidelines.
• What materials are typically required?
  Materials commonly include an application or nomination form, CV or résumé, letters of support, and a statement addressing award criteria.
• When are applications and nominations due?
  Deadlines vary by award and are posted on individual award pages.
• How are award recipients selected?
  Recipients are selected by review panels or committees appointed by the Association through a formal, governance-aligned process.
• What criteria are used to evaluate applications or nominations?
  Criteria may include scientific or professional impact, leadership, alignment with award purpose, and career stage.
• How and when are award recipients notified?
  Recipients are notified after the approval process is complete. Timing varies by award.
• Are awards presented at a meeting or event?
  Many awards are presented during major scientific meetings or conferences.
• If I am not selected, will I receive feedback?
  Individualized feedback is not typically provided due to volume and confidentiality.
• Who can I contact with questions about a specific award?
  Contact the awards team using the information listed on the award page.